By : Colton Towns
(Photo/Sabri Haidar-The Mojo Network)
Week 9 of the 2025 college football season has arrived, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most pivotal weekends yet. The SEC once again sits at the center of the storm with three ranked matchups — including two top-15 showdowns that could dramatically reshape the playoff picture.
From Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma at noon to a primetime SEC clash in Baton Rouge, here’s your full guide to Saturday’s must-watch slate.
Game of the Week: No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma
Noon ET | ABC | fuboTV (try for free)
The new-look SEC schedule brings us another marquee matchup between two emerging contenders. Ole Miss (6-1) will look to bounce back from its 43-35 loss to Georgia, where the Rebels led most of the way before running out of steam late.
Oklahoma (6-1), meanwhile, is entering a brutal stretch — five straight games against ranked teams — making this home test a must-win. This marks just the third-ever meeting between the Rebels and Sooners, but under the SEC’s new nine-game model, it’s becoming an annual rivalry.
Storyline to watch: Can Jaxson Dart and the Rebel offense rebound against one of the nation’s stingiest defenses? Or will Oklahoma protect home turf and make a statement in its first year of SEC play?
Underrated Thriller: No. 18 South Florida at Memphis
Noon ET | ESPN2 | fuboTV (try for free)
Don’t sleep on this one. South Florida’s résumé is among the best in the country — two wins over ranked teams and its only blemish coming at No. 9 Miami. Memphis (5-2) is reeling after a loss to UAB, but the Tigers can make up major ground in the American race with a win here.
Why it matters: This could decide which Group of Six team makes a serious push for a playoff berth.
SEC Spotlight: No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt
3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | fuboTV (try for free)
Missouri has been close to breaking through in the playoff race before — but signature wins like this have eluded them. Saturday offers that chance against a Vanderbilt team that’s turned heads all season.
The Commodores, led by quarterback Diego Pavia, are favored at home and riding one of the nation’s most balanced offenses. Missouri hasn’t beaten a top-10 team since 2021, but that could change if the Tigers’ defense holds up in crunch time.
Fun fact: Vanderbilt hasn’t defeated Missouri since 2019 — a streak the Dores are determined to end in front of a packed Nashville crowd.
Big Ten Classic: Minnesota at Iowa
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Paramount+ Premium
The Floyd of Rosedale is back on the line for the 119th meeting of this storied rivalry. Minnesota holds the all-time edge (63-53-2), but Iowa has dominated lately, winning 11 of the last 13.
After Minnesota snapped the streak in 2023, the Gophers are eyeing another statement win, while the Hawkeyes try to reassert Big Ten West control. Expect defense, grit, and maybe some old-school football weather.
Primetime Headliner: No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU
7:30 p.m. ET | ABC | fuboTV (try for free)
This is LSU’s last stand in the playoff race — and the ultimate test for unbeaten Texas A&M. The Tigers have been inconsistent but remain dangerous at home, where the crowd at Tiger Stadium can turn any night into chaos.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, is the SEC’s last undefeated team and has yet to face a ranked opponent since September. Saturday in Baton Rouge will determine whether the Aggies are true contenders or just beneficiaries of a soft schedule.
Storyline to watch: LSU needs a statement win to stay alive. Texas A&M needs to survive the noise. Something has to give.
Best of the Rest: Saturday Schedule
Noon ET
No. 2 Indiana vs. UCLA — FOX
Syracuse at No. 7 Georgia Tech — ESPN
No. 16 Virginia at North Carolina — ACC Network
Northwestern at Nebraska — FS1
Kansas State at Kansas — TNT
Ohio at Eastern Michigan — CBS Sports Network
3:30 p.m. ET
No. 4 Alabama at South Carolina — ABC
No. 11 BYU at Iowa State — FOX
No. 23 Illinois at Washington — Big Ten Network
Florida Atlantic at Navy — CBS Sports Network
4 p.m. ET
Baylor at No. 21 Cincinnati — ESPN2
4:15 p.m. ET
No. 22 Texas at Mississippi State — SEC Network
7 p.m. ET
Wisconsin at No. 6 Oregon — FS1
Stanford at No. 9 Miami — ESPN
7:30 p.m. ET
No. 25 Michigan at Michigan State — NBC
Colorado State at Wyoming — CBS Sports Network
7:45 p.m. ET
No. 17 Tennessee at Kentucky — SEC Network
8 p.m. ET
Houston at No. 24 Arizona State — ESPN2
Final Word
Week 9 offers something for everyone — SEC showdowns with playoff implications, Big Ten tradition, and a few Group of Six matchups that could sneak into national relevance. Whether it’s the chaos in Baton Rouge or the pressure in Norman, Saturday’s slate could redefine the second half of the 2025 season.